Willowers

Wood Cow Chronicles #4

by Rick Johnson

In this stunning conclusion to the Wood Cow Chronicles, the struggle to overturn ancient injustice will succeed or fail depending on what happens when enslaved dragons are released to act in freedom. The rediscovery of long-lost wonders holds the key to the final death of tyranny and the dawn of lasting peace. The way forward is anything but clear, however… The High One has fallen, taking age-old tyranny with him, but the Hedgelands is in chaos as the new Council struggles toward a new society. Wrackshee slavers have not given up the game, and move to exploit the disorder and preserve the old system. When no one seems able to stop the Wrackshee onslaught, Bem Madsoor makes a desperate and dangerous decision—to split her fleet and send a heavily out-numbered band of sea-beasts against the Wrackshees' fortified camp. Can the rebels face wonders and fears that run counter to everything they know? Simple bravery is not going to cut it this time. Distant realms are inexorably drawn into the turmoil, and would-be prophets and rebels, warriors and scholars, kings and dragons, discover they are part of a struggle in which they must come together, or lose all.

Genres: Fantasy

282 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 29, 2015

About the author

I am a community-builder, author, and educator leveraging the power of storytelling to promote equality, justice, and humanity’s reconciliation for peace and unity.

Storytelling is a social force.

In many ways, we are the stories we tell ourselves and that we tell about each other. Beyond providing an entertaining story for readers, I hope to contribute to changing the narratives we tell ourselves and that we tell about each other. I want to offer what I can in the way of breaking us out of the mental boxes made up of the stories we tell.

I hope that my stories will bring hope when we are wearied with humanity's monotony of pain, inspire active doubt when we're told that every human problem is insoluble, strengthen our resolve when everything around us seems to be shaking, cause a smile when the ugly face of despair is leering at us, and stimulate us to reexamine our own cherished assumptions underlying the stories we tell. My heroines and heroes do not yield to the overwhelming power of tyranny, but serve the cause of equality, justice, and freedom for all. They speak aloud when malevolent forces try to crush their minds.

I tell stories about active love for the weak and powerless; valiant and courageous collaborative action to advance the justice, equality, freedom, and respect that must underlie any lasting unity. As an author, I’m drawn to eccentric, unexpected characters: those who surprise because they hear a distant galaxy, see a different music, create their own song or story rather than get hooked on a soundtrack; the child who has her or his own ideas about how the emperor is dressed; the lunatics and rebels who tell stories on the boundaries.

Wood Cows think differently. Join the adventure!